Whether you are ready for fall or hanging on to these last few weeks of sunny weather, one
inconvenient fact is for sure – hurricane season is upon us. The official hurricane season runs
from June to November, with the most activity occurring between August and October.
We’ve been lucky so far this year, but you may recall the widespread power outages, wind
damage, and flooding from hurricanes in our town in years past. Just last week, we felt the
effects of Hurricane Erin with strong winds, rain, and rip currents along the east coast.
The Town of Clarkstown continues to work diligently with our utility providers, our first
responders, and other levels of government to improve storm preparations and response
measures for our residents. In addition, the Town of Clarkstown has undertaken several flood
mitigation and stormwater management control projects throughout the town, including a
massive overhaul of the West Nyack hamlet’s drainage and the Klein Avenue Levee
Improvement project. These projects really help to protect that neighborhood, which was prone
to flooding for the past century.
But at the end of the day, there’s no way to ever fully mitigate the potentially destructive power
of Mother Nature. That’s why making sure you’re on top of your own personal storm preparation
game is as important as ever. Fortunately, the steps to protecting yourself are relatively simple
and straightforward. Save the phone numbers to report power outages and downed power lines
in your phone or download the O&R utility application. Do the same for your cable and internet
providers. Consider investing in a generator and follow all the safety guidelines that come with
it.
Residents should also prepare an emergency kit that is kept handy during this season. The
federal government has a lot of resources for preparation including how to prepare a Ready to
Go Bag.’ Some of their suggestions include:
● Build an emergency kit that is kept in a spot that can be easily reached.
● Stock up on batteries for flashlights, portable radios and other devices.
● Keep an emergency supply of water and nonperishable food on hand.
● Have a family plan in place that includes an emergency meet up location.
● Plan ahead for the potential need for cash, gas up your vehicles, and charge all your
electronic devices.
Residents with limited mobility or special needs which might impact a timely response during an
emergency, should also register for the County of Rockland’s ‘Access and Functional Needs
Registry’. The registry alerts emergency first responders so they are prepared for your special
needs in advance of their response. If you believe you, or someone you care for, is unable to
independently act upon emergency protective orders, please register at
www.rocklandregisters.com.
When a major storm is forecast the Clarkstown Police Department prepares to activate the
Emergency Operations Center. The EOC is staffed with key personnel from the Clarkstown
Police and Highway Department, my office, and a representative from Orange and Rockland
Utilities and other agencies. This creates a centralized command post for communication to
ensure more efficient storm response.
The town has acquired generators and other equipment to power key traffic lights that are
knocked off line during a storm. The Town’s four community centers have generators in the
event of power outages and can be used as charging stations for residents. No matter what this
hurricane season might bring, the Town of Clarkstown is prepared.
